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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Chapter 10

She woke the next morning to the feel of strong arms holding her. Sighing softly she shifted on the bed and pressed her nose into the fur that was tickling her cheek. She had missed this, his scent and presence wrapping her in a cocoon of safe warmth. She ached all over but it was worth all the pain just to know that it had brought her here. She winced slightly as the urge to relieve herself raised its ugly head. Reaching down she lifted his arm gently and tried to slide from the bed, a whimper whispering over her lips as her wounds made their presence known.

“Trying to escape me Golden girl?” Jon’s voice was husky with sleep as he cracked one eye open a bit.

“Ah um, no, it’s just that, that,” She looked up into those startling blue eyes, need written very plainly in her golden gaze.

Without a word he slowly slipped from the bed, not wanting to jar her or make her pain worse. Reaching out he took her hand and helped her slowly stand. As her body straightened he gently placed an arm around her body and escorted her to the bathroom door. “If you need me don’t hesitate to call ok?”

She smiled and shook her head, a slight flush creeping up into her cheeks. “I’m hoping I can at least handle this, but thank you.”

Taking the doorknob he closed the door then leaned against it, preparing to wait until she needed assistance to return to the bed. Leaning his head back against the door his mind wandered down the memories of the night before. He had always thought that the wolf and girl were separate, yet each time Dusty was around the wolf mysteriously vanished. The fringes of a memory kept creeping back to him of a night he saw one become the other. It was something he was going to have to talk to her about soon, but it wouldn’t be today, she simply didn’t need the stress.

“Jon?” a soft voice called from beyond the door. “I can’t get out.”

Jon straightened and grinned, then slowly cracked the door open. “Sorry bout that baby, I was leaning against it waiting on you.” He reached around her waist careful to avoid the wound and started walking her back to the bed. Halfway there a resounding BOOM rattled the door frames.

“HEY FRANK!! Wake your lazy ass up, Doctor Sambora is in da house!”

Jon groaned softly as he settled Dusty on the bed. “I best let him in.”

Dusty gave Jon a curious look. “You called a doctor?”

Jon shook his head, “No baby, That’s just Richie being the eternal goof he always is. I better let him in before he wakes the rest of the hotel.” He smiled down at Dusty, noting the fear her gaze was offering him. “He’s just a big kid, but he’s the best friend I have. You don’t remember seeing him last night?”

Dusty shook her head, “I don’t remember much of last night.”

“Well he helped me out when we found you. Your gonna love him I promise.” He turned and strode to the door and opened it. His smile widened as he saw all the bags in Richie’s hands. “Get in here you asshole before you wake the entire hotel. What’s in the bags?”

Richie looked over at the girl on the bed. “Well, I brought more bandages, and I figured she might need something to wear so I guessed at sizes and brought a few things that wouldn’t rub on her bandages so badly. I also stopped and picked us up something to eat. I know how you are before you get your morning coffee.” He stopped and studied Jon a moment, “Although I gotta admit you look a little less like a growling bear this morning, very unsual to see, can I give that credit to the pretty lady?” He walked over to the bed with a smile that made his brown eyes glitter and looked down. “So how’s our patient this morning?”

Dusty couldn’t help but smile. He was just an overgrown kid and it showed in his goofy smile. She took a deep breath and grinned, remembering when the wolf pounced him and scented him. He was the one with the homey smell, the one who made her think of forests and home. Yes she was going to like this friend of Jon’s. She lifted a hand to Richie and smiled. “It’s nice to meet the man Jon calls his best friend.”

Richie bowed over her hand and gave it a tiny kiss. “It’s my pleasure to meet a woman who can calm the growly bear first thing in the morning. If this is what you do when you’re incapacitated I can’t WAIT to see how you lead him a chase when you’re all healed.”

Dusty shook her head and laughed softly, her hand moving to her side as the laughter caused the wound to pull. “Damn, don’t make me laugh right yet, it stings something fierce when I do.”

“So golden girl, do you want to eat first or fix your bandages first?” Jon sat carefully down beside her his blue gaze centering on hers.

“Let’s just get the hard part over with first. My reward can be the yummies I can smell in that bag after.” Dusty smiled over at Richie, thankful someone had remembered food.

Richie grinned and walked over to the table. “I’ll just be here setting up your reward while Jon fixes you up.”

Dusty smiled again amazed at his thoughtfulness. She wasn’t sure how much he had seen the night before, but she was glad he recognized that last night was different from the morning and that realize she might be uncomfortable with what he might see. Taking a deep breath she nodded at Jon and prepared herself for whatever he might need to do next.

Jon carefully moved her to her uninjured side and began to carefully pull the tape and bandage away from her wound. He bit back a gasp at the mottled bruising around the gash. Picking up a few gauze and the betadine he quickly, yet gently washed the wound off then settled more antiseptic ointment over the area. Each time she whimpered he stopped and slowly caressed her skin until she settled before starting again. Within moment he had her side bandaged and turned her onto her back only to start the process again with the gash at her neck.

After finishing he reached into the bag and pulled a teeshirt from the shopping bag. Unfolding it he groaned and held it up. It was bright pink with the words, “I’m with stupid” and a arrow pointing to the side in neon purple. He shot a look at Richie who grinned and said “What? YOU know I’m color blind bro, I see purple I buy it.”

Dusty caught a glimpse of the shirt and tried hard to not laugh. Her voice was husky with the need to let loose and laugh as she said, “I’m going to treasure that forever Richie.”

Jon shook his head as he came to the conclusion that his golden girl shared Richie’s cracked sense of humor. “Well how’s about I get you up and to the table to eat now Baby?” He slid the tee over her head and helped her slide her arms into the sleeves. “We don’t want you dying of hunger, lack of humor maybe, but hunger never.”

She carefully sat up and swang her feet over the side of the bed. As Jon wrapped an arm around her waist she whispered, “You know I could get used to this.” She finished standing and unable to resist laid her head against his chest, her nose again rubbing against his fur.

Jon pressed a kiss onto the top of her head and smiled as his voice whispered over her, “That’s the plan baby, you’ve figured me out.”

They stood there a moment, lost in each others closeness only to be interrupted by a rather silly British voice, “Your breakfast is getting cold, how about we bloody well eat?”

As they sighed in tandem, they walked over to the table, Jon helping her sit before seating himself. “So dish it up Dean, we’re ready.”

For the next hour the two men alternately ate and kept Dusty amused as they filled her in about a day in the life of Bon Jovi. She knew that although she might miss the wolf, she was going to enjoy experiencing life in the very capable arms of a certain blue eyed wonder named Jon.

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